Research innovations transform mungbeans into "moneybeans".

Abstract

Our mungbean industry is celebrating the International Year of Pulses (IYP) with a record crop, near record prices and a new range of locally-produced spreadable pastes. Australian ‘clean green’ mungbeans continue to be highly sought after in premium export markets for sprouting and processing as well as locally to produce a nut-free alternative to peanut butter. The rise of mungbeans as a profitable summer pulse crop in the northern grains zone follows innovations in breeding and research that transformed mungbeans in the eyes of growers from ‘mongrel beans’ into ‘moneybeans’.
Vital research has delivered improved varieties and better ways to grow mungbeans in the face of environmental challenges. The integration of improved genetics and best practice management matched with a better understanding of production environments and market needs has revolutionised grower confidence and mungbean profitability.
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) leads mungbean breeding efforts that continue to improve yields, grain quality and crop resilience in the face of drought and disease.
Since 2003, double-digit yield gains in successive DAF-bred varieties have increased grower confidence and doubled industry production from 35,000 to 70,000 tonnes. University research partnerships are further supercharging our mungbean industry. For example, our Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is delivering more productive and resilient management options including row spacings. Revolutionary genetic tools and technologies are also being developed and tested with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is using expertise in bacterial pathogens to better address challenges from key diseases such as halo blight. Queensland scientists are also a vital part of a new international network that will further improve breeding and research outcomes for our pulse industry and our growers.
Industry partner, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), estimated that every dollar invested in the mungbean breeding program alone returned $18 of benefits to the grains industry. Our world-class efforts in mungbean breeding and research provide the key to consistently delivering industry’s bold target of 170,000 tonnes of mungbeans annually. This will ensure we remain the preferred supplier of premium, quality-assured mungbeans in competitive domestic and international markets.